Nigel Warren was fined $2,400 for renting out his apartment on Airbnb for three nights. But last week, the New York City Environmental Control Board reversed his fines, setting an important precedent for short term rentals in the Empire State.

Thanks to a 2011 state law, a residential multiple dwelling must be occupied by the same person or family for 30 or more consecutive days. So renting out one’s own property for less than a month is actually illegal…officials in New York City issued almost 2,000 violations for short term rentals in 2011.

However, this ruling won’t apply to New Yorkers who rent out their homes when none of the renters or owners are there. This law needlessly limits consumer choice, while protecting hotels from more competition (the Hotel Association of New York City has been one of the staunchest opponents of reform). The state legislature should build on this partial win and reform its protectionist rental laws.